A disease in which the heart muscle becomes thickened, also called hypertrophied.

With hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the thickened heart muscle can make it harder for the heart to pump blood. The condition usually is caused by gene changes that are passed down through families.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often causes few or no symptoms. But for some, the condition causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, and fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeats.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment depends on how serious the symptoms are. Medicines can help the heart pump blood better. Surgeries and implanted heart devices can treat the condition and its symptoms.